Human Factors in Aviation The Failing Aviator

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Human Factors in Aviation/ The Failing Aviator

• CDR Mark Mittauer
• NOMI Psychiatry

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Outline

• Human Factors in Aviation
• Five Types of High Risk Aviators

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Human Factors in Aviation

• Definition The personal and professional
  concerns that interfere with an aviators ability
  to fly safely and effectively

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Reference on Human Factors

• COMNAVAIRLANT INSTRUCTION 5420.5C (Human Factors
  Council and Human Factors Board Policy and
  Procedures)

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Why so we care about human factors in aviation?

• What percentage of aviation mishaps are caused by
  pilot error?
• About 75

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The Problem ...

• Fellow aviator peers and supervisors often know
  that an aviator is stressed - but do not speak up

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Why are squadron members reluctant to express
concern about a stressed aviator?

• fear of contamination (if Viper cant hack it,
  maybe I will also have problems)
• embarrassment - that a squadron bubba is failing

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Why might the aviator himself avoid asking for
help?

• denial - a normal defense used by all successful
  aviators
• fear of extrusion from the squadron
• stigma of psychiatric illness
• (false) belief that psychiatric treatment means
  permanent grounding

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Human Factors Problems in Mishaps

• The aviator has inadequate knowledge, skill, or
  discipline - to fly safely
• The aviator is overwhelmed due to personal
  problems

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Personal Problems Facing Aviators

• medical conditions (cold)
• alcoholism
• family problems
• financial stress
• welcome changes - new child

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Personal Problems (Job)

• disappointing training evaluation or fitness
  report
• passed over for promotion
• flying qualifications not current
• new position (mission commander)

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Personal Problems Unique to Female Aviators(?)

• death of a close friend in an aircraft mishap
• perceived sexual harassment/hostile work
  environment
• (one study found this factor in 25 of
  overstressed female aviators)

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How do these problems affect the stressed aviator?

• fatigue
• distraction (unable to compartmentalize)
• poor judgment
• excessive risk-taking (safety violations)
• poor communication and coordination with other
  aircrew

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Potentially Dangerous Aviators

• overstressed aviator
• below average nugget or transition aviator
• consistent poor performer
• overconfident senior aviator
• best pilot/NFO (ace of the base)

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Overstressed Aviator - Characteristics

• faces major life stressors or many minor
  stressors
• mood swings
• anger outbursts
• depression
• anxiety/panic attacks
• unable to compartmentalize
• suicidal or homicidal thoughts

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Overstressed Aviator - Interventions

• temporary grounding
• flight surgeon evaluation
• mental health referral
• - psychiatrist or psychologist
• - social worker (Family Service
  Center)
• - chaplain
• Note Mental Health referral is not a career-
• ender

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Below Average Nugget/Transition Aviator

• behind peers in training
• fails exams/flight downs
• poor knowledge of procedures
• inadequate skills
• poor headwork
• lacks confidence

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Below Average Nugget - Interventions

• remedial training
• roll back in training
• crew with best instructor
• minimize collateral duties
• honest, but constructive, debriefs
• (not a problem in VT-86!)

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Consistent Poor Performer(weak stick/scope?)

• poor progress completing qualifications
• frequent snivels out of flights
• task saturation
• often loses SA bag (situation awareness)
• lacks confidence

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Poor Performer - Interventions

• monitor performance closely
• remedial training
• crew with best instructor
• minimize collateral duties

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Overconfident Senior Aviator -Characteristics

• away from the aircraft too long
• infrequent flight time
• been there, done that attitude (feels that
  experience replaces proficiency)
• NATOPS?
• intimidates junior aircrew

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Senior Aviator - Interventions

• CO confront and counsel
• crew with other senior aviators
• additional flight time

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Best Aviator - Characteristics

• may overestimate ability
• pushes the envelope
• underestimates mission risk
• violates NATOPS/SOP
• poor aircrew coordination (does not request input
  from other aircrew)

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Best Aviator - Interventions

• CO confront
• clarify standards/SOP
• restrict flights

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Behavior of the Failing Male Aviator

• acting out (alcohol excess, the red Corvette,
  partying)
• displays of bravado
• - carrier quals at Happy Hour
• - unsafe flying
• macho posturing

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Do failing minority aviators act differently?

• perhaps

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Study by Berg and Moore of 12 failing female
aviators

• emotional distress hidden
• (more depression, guilt, hopelessness)
• social withdrawal
• NO acting out or risk-taking

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Why might failing female aviators behave
differently?

• need for acceptance in the mostly male squadron
• do not want to be labeled as weak females

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Pearls

• Female aviators may be affected by different
  stresses - compared to males
• Stressed aviators today may have more subtle
  signs of being overwhelmed
• DO NOT rely on the aviator to determine if he/she
  cannot compartmentalize!

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Finis